In all divorce actions pending or filed in any of the circuit courts of this state where a warning order has been published against the defendant, who is a nonresident of this state, for the time and in the manner fixed by law and proof of publication has been filed with the clerk of the circuit court, and where the report or response of the attorney ad litem appointed for the nonresident has been filed with the clerk of the court, and no answer or other defense has been filed in the circuit court by the nonresident defendant, the judge of the circuit court upon submission of the cause to him or her in his or her chambers, or at any other place in his or her district by the attorney for the plaintiff, shall hear and enter a decree in the cause that shall have the same binding force and effect, both in law and equity, as if entered in term time in the county where the decree is filed.