(1)  When any cause or matter, after being fully heard before the Court, is ordered to stand for judgment, it is not necessary that both or all judges before whom it was heard be present together in court to declare their opinions thereon, but the opinion of any of them may be reduced to writing and may be read by any other judge at any subsequent sitting of the Court at which judgment in the cause or matter is appointed to be delivered.

(2)  In any such case the question shall be decided in the same manner, and the judgment of the Court shall have the same force and effect as if the judge whose opinion is so read had been present in court and had declared his opinion in person.

(3)  Nothing in this section affects the practice of publishing in writing a judge's reasons for his opinion.