by Yesterday, the White House announced six recess appointments. Four were ambassadors, one was to the position of Public Printer (head of the Government Printing Office), and one as Deputy Attorney General.
From my perspective this is important not for who was appointed but who wasn’t – Andrew Traver to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Of course, Obama still could make Traver a recess appointment as the new Congress doesn’t begin until January 5th. My guess is that if no more appointments are made by Friday, then these six are it.
John Elwood at the Volokh Conspiracy goes into detail on the mechanics of these appointments and recess appointments in general.