On the unanimous recommendation of Texas U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, Yeakel was nominated by President George W. Bush on May 1, 2003 to a seat vacated by James Nowlin as Nowlin assumed senior status. Yeakel was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 28, 2003 on a unanimous vote. Yaekel received commission on July 29, 2003.[1]