If a judge’s jurisdiction over a case lapses before a judgment is rendered, his successor may continue with the case from the point where the proceedings of his predecessor ended. He shall read to the litigants what is in the record, which he shall honor if signed by the previous judge along with the signatures of litigants and witnesses. If proceedings entered into the record are not signed by one or more of the litigants or the judge and the litigants have not acknowledged the same, the arguments shall be heard anew.